Matti Leshem
Encyclopedia
Matti Phillip Leshem is founder and CEO of Protagonist, a Brand Energy company.
, Leshem was raised in Jerusalem, Copenhagen
and New York
. He is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College
and was a directing fellow at the American Film Institute
, where he received his Master of Fine Arts
in film directing
in 1993.
Leshem is the son of the late Moshe Leshem, who served as Israeli ambassador to the United Nations
and several countries, including Zaire
(today known as Democratic Republic of the Congo
) and Denmark
.
, originating Second City Naked News, a daily updated news parody.
The following year, Leshem was hired by Barry Diller
as editor in chief
of Silver King Broadcasting, where he was responsible for the development, production, scheduling and marketing of all programs on the Miami television station, WAMI
.
Later, Leshem started a community-driven studio on the web called AntEye.com, which was committed to changing the traditional development and creative process of filmmaking.
In 2003, Leshem partnered with Michael Davies
to form Diplomatic Productions. At Diplomatic, Leshem developed integrated brand shows, most notably Pepsi Play for a Billion, a two-hour summer special offering the chance for one player to win $1 billion. Leshem was also executive producer
on several TV shows including USA Network
's Smush
and the documentary series Ultimate Reality on A&E
.
, Mountain Dew
, SoBe
, Weight Watchers
, MTV Networks
, MySpace
, and AOL
.
and launched a nationwide tournament in 300 markets across the country for Bud Light. The League finals were broadcast on ESPN2
and made headlines around the world, declaring a $50,000 champion.
For three years, Bud Light partnered with the USARPS League to crown an annual $50,000 champion in tournaments airing on A&E, ESPN2 and Fox Sports Net
's Best Damn Sports Show Period.
The USARPS League went global with the Budweiser International Rock Paper Scissors Federation Championship in Beijing
, held during the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
In February 2009, the League joined with AMP Energy to launch the first-ever USARPS College ChAMPionships. Following qualifying rounds at 20 campuses, Syracuse University
's Jonathan "Naco" Monaco won $20,000 towards college tuition at mtvU
's Spring Break in Panama City Beach, Florida
. Brittany Kraft, the 2010 USARPS College ChAMPionship winner from Eastern Illinois University
, took home $25,000 courtesy of AMP Energy at the 2010 mtvU Spring Break in Acapulco, Mexico
. In 2010, the League will publish The Zen of Rock Paper Scissors with It Books, a division of HarperCollins
.
. Later, he was cast as Dr. Dan Shae, appearing in more than 160 episodes of the 1988 television show, Family Medical Center.
In 2004, Leshem was a judge on the new version of Star Search
hosted by Arsenio Hall
.
Early life
Born in the Belgian CongoBelgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
, Leshem was raised in Jerusalem, Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
and was a directing fellow at the American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
, where he received his Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in film directing
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
in 1993.
Leshem is the son of the late Moshe Leshem, who served as Israeli ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and several countries, including Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
(today known as Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
) and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Early career
In 1996, Leshem founded Cobalt Moon, a seminal Los Angeles-based interactive entertainment company and the first outside producer at MSNMSN
MSN is a collection of Internet sites and services provided by Microsoft. The Microsoft Network debuted as an online service and Internet service provider on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of the Windows 95 operating system.The range of services offered by MSN has changed since its...
, originating Second City Naked News, a daily updated news parody.
The following year, Leshem was hired by Barry Diller
Barry Diller
Barry Charles Diller is the Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp and the media executive responsible for the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company and USA Broadcasting.-Early life:...
as editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of Silver King Broadcasting, where he was responsible for the development, production, scheduling and marketing of all programs on the Miami television station, WAMI
WAMI-TV
WAMI-DT is the TeleFutura Network-owned television station for the Miami/Fort Lauderdale market. This station is currently owned by Univision and transmits Spanish language programming on channel 69.- Channel 69, WCIX translator channel :...
.
Later, Leshem started a community-driven studio on the web called AntEye.com, which was committed to changing the traditional development and creative process of filmmaking.
In 2003, Leshem partnered with Michael Davies
Michael Davies (television producer)
Michael Davies is a British producer of television game shows in the United States. As president and CEO of Embassy Row, a New York-based television production company that is a unit of Sony Pictures Television, he was the executive producer of the U.S. version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire...
to form Diplomatic Productions. At Diplomatic, Leshem developed integrated brand shows, most notably Pepsi Play for a Billion, a two-hour summer special offering the chance for one player to win $1 billion. Leshem was also executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
on several TV shows including USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
's Smush
Smush
-The game:Smush was hosted by Ken Ober and co-hosted by Lisa Dergan. The show, set in a basement party atmosphere, featured four contestants trying to "smush" the answers to clues together, to create a new smushed phrase. For example, the clue "A New England state + 'Flying Circus' man" would...
and the documentary series Ultimate Reality on A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
.
Protagonist
In 2003, Leshem formed Protagonist, a Brand Energy company. Protagonist creates immersive, culturally relevant experiences for television, online and on-premise for blue-chip brands, including Bud Light, PepsiPepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
, Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew is a citrus-flavored carbonated soft drink brand produced and owned by PepsiCo. The original formula was invented in the 1940s by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman and was first marketed in Marion, VA, Knoxville and Johnson City, Tennessee. A revised formula was...
, SoBe
SoBe
SoBe is a brand of teas, fruit-juice blends and enhanced water beverages owned by PepsiCo. The name SoBe is an abbreviation of South Beach, named after the upscale area located in Miami Beach, Florida. In the past, the SoBe name has also been licensed for gum and chocolate products...
, Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
, MTV Networks
MTV Networks
MTV Networks is a division of media conglomerate Viacom that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet brands, including the original MTV channel in the United States...
, MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, and AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
.
USA Rock Paper Scissors League
In 2005, Leshem founded the USA Rock Paper Scissors LeagueUSA Rock Paper Scissors League
The United States of America Rock Paper Scissors League is a national competition league for the hand game rock paper scissors. The first national champion was crowned on 9 April 2006 at the USARPS League Championship, which was held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada and televised by...
and launched a nationwide tournament in 300 markets across the country for Bud Light. The League finals were broadcast on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
and made headlines around the world, declaring a $50,000 champion.
For three years, Bud Light partnered with the USARPS League to crown an annual $50,000 champion in tournaments airing on A&E, ESPN2 and Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
's Best Damn Sports Show Period.
The USARPS League went global with the Budweiser International Rock Paper Scissors Federation Championship in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, held during the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
In February 2009, the League joined with AMP Energy to launch the first-ever USARPS College ChAMPionships. Following qualifying rounds at 20 campuses, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
's Jonathan "Naco" Monaco won $20,000 towards college tuition at mtvU
MtvU
mtvU is a division of Viacom's MTV Networks which produces a 24-hour television channel that is available on more than 750 college and university campuses across the United States, as well as several digital cable packages...
's Spring Break in Panama City Beach, Florida
Panama City Beach, Florida
Panama City Beach is a city in Bay County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico coast. The city is often referred to under the umbrella term of "Panama City", despite being a distinct municipality from the older and larger inland Panama City to the east, making Panama City and Panama City...
. Brittany Kraft, the 2010 USARPS College ChAMPionship winner from Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
, took home $25,000 courtesy of AMP Energy at the 2010 mtvU Spring Break in Acapulco, Mexico
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
. In 2010, the League will publish The Zen of Rock Paper Scissors with It Books, a division of HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
.
On-Air Career
Leshem made his television debut in the prime time soap opera, Falcon CrestFalcon Crest
Falcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990. A total of 227 episodes were produced....
. Later, he was cast as Dr. Dan Shae, appearing in more than 160 episodes of the 1988 television show, Family Medical Center.
In 2004, Leshem was a judge on the new version of Star Search
Star Search
Star Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...
hosted by Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the...
.